Modular electronic device system

Abstract

A modular electronic device system includes an electronic device and a cover for the device that allows the device to be mechanically and electrically mounted to a stand or device adapter on the rear side of the cover. The cover or device adapter can be connectable to modularly attachable and removable accessory devices and can provide electrical ports for powering and operating the accessory devices. While mounted to a stand, power and data communications can be provided to the electronic device, cover, and accessory devices from the stand or an external source. The modular components of the system can be interchangeable to allow the system to be adapted to many different settings and use cases based on the types of components included as the accessory devices and based on the number of accessory devices used.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An expansion hub for a portable electronic device, the expansion hub comprising:
 a housing having a rear side; 
 a first electrical connector to connect to an electronic device; 
 a second electrical connector on the rear side of the housing and configured to mate to a third electrical connector in a rear direction relative to the housing, the second electrical connector being in electrical communication with the first electrical connector; and 
 a mounting connector to mate the housing to a second mounting connector positioned external to the rear side of the housing in response to movement of the housing in the rear direction; 
 wherein with the mounting connector mated to the second mounting connector, the second electrical connector is in electrical communication with the third electrical connector. 
 
     
     
       2. The expansion hub of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing is configured to enclose a rear surface of the electronic device; 
 the first electrical connector is configured to engage the electronic device in a direction perpendicular to the rear direction; 
 the mounting connector is configured to mate to the second mounting connector using a biased latch; and 
 the second electrical connector is configured to mate to the third electrical connector using at least one biased pin. 
 
     
     
       3. The expansion hub of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is positioned in a cover configured to enclose a rear side of the electronic device. 
     
     
       4. The expansion hub of  claim 3 , wherein the cover comprises a rear casing and a front casing, the housing being positioned between the rear casing and the front casing. 
     
     
       5. The expansion hub of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is reversibly removable from the cover. 
     
     
       6. The expansion hub of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting connector comprises a magnetic component to magnetically attract the mounting connector to the second mounting connector. 
     
     
       7. The expansion hub of  claim 1 , further comprising a device hub and an accessory electrical connector;
 wherein the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector, and the accessory electrical connector are configured for electrical communication with each other by the device hub. 
 
     
     
       8. The expansion hub of  claim 6 , wherein the accessory electrical connector is positioned peripherally external to the housing. 
     
     
       9. The expansion hub of  claim 6 , further comprising an accessory device movable relative to the accessory electrical connector between a first position electrically connected to the accessory electrical connector and a second position electrically disconnected from the accessory electrical connector. 
     
     
       10. The expansion hub of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector is configured to connect to the electronic device along a direction perpendicular to the rear direction. 
     
     
       11. A modular electronic device system, comprising:
 a case for an electronic device, the case including:
 a first case electrical connector to engage an electrical contact of the electronic device; 
 a second case electrical connector facing a rear direction from the case and in electrical communication with the first case electrical connector; 
 a third case electrical connector in electrical communication with the second case electrical connector; 
 a first case latching portion; and 
 a second case latching portion; 
 
 a support base including:
 an arm portion having an arm latching portion releasably connectable to the first case latching portion; 
 a first base electrical connector to connect to a power source; 
 a second base electrical connector positioned on the arm portion and in electrical communication with the first base electrical connector; and 
 
 an accessory device including:
 an accessory latching portion releasably connectable to the second case latching portion; and 
 an electronic component configured to electrically connect to the third case electrical connector. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The modular electronic device system of  claim 11 , further comprising a device adapter including:
 a housing having a front side and a rear side; 
 a first adapter electrical connector on the front side and configured to electrically engage the second case electrical connector; 
 a second adapter electrical connector on the rear side and configured to electrically engage the second base electrical connector; and 
 an accessory port for providing electrical communication with at least one of the first and second adapter electrical connectors. 
 
     
     
       13. The modular electronic device system of  claim 12 , wherein the device adapter is positionable between the case and the support base with the first adapter electrical connector electrically engaging the second case electrical connector and with the second adapter electrical connector electrically engaging the second base electrical connector. 
     
     
       14. The modular electronic device system of  claim 11 , wherein the first case latching portion is configured to blind-mate with the arm latching portion by movement of the first case latching portion parallel to the rear direction. 
     
     
       15. The modular electronic device system of  claim 11 , further comprising a sensor to detect attachment of the case to the support base. 
     
     
       16. The modular electronic device system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first case latching portion and the arm latching portion are adjustable between a locked state and an unlocked state; 
 in the locked state, the case is locked to the arm portion; and 
 in the unlocked state, the case is suspended by the arm portion with the rear direction being substantially horizontal. 
 
     
     
       17. A tablet computing system, comprising:
 a computing device having a touchscreen interface positioned in a housing and having an input port; 
 a cover configured to enclose at least a rear surface of the housing; 
 a hub positioned in the cover, the hub including a first electrical connector connected to the input port of the computing device and a second electrical connector exposed at an edge of the cover, wherein an accessory device is electrically connectable to the input port via contact with the second electrical connector. 
 
     
     
       18. The tablet computing system of  claim 17 , further comprising a mechanical connection interface at the second electrical connector, the mechanical connection interface being attachable to the accessory device. 
     
     
       19. The tablet computing system of  claim 17 , wherein the second electrical connector is configured to provide power to the accessory device. 
     
     
       20. The tablet computing system of  claim 17 , wherein the cover further comprises a panel positioned between the computing device and the hub.